1785 EMERSON GERRISH OF OLDLAND COMMON
Ref: GLS
1785/73
Proved: 1785 June 21 Written: 1779 June
18
Transcribed by Reg Harris
In the name of God Amen I Emerson GERRISH of Oldland Common in the parish of Bitton in the county of Gloucester Farmer being somewhat indisposed in body but of a sound mind memory and understanding thanks be to God for the same and considering with myself the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof do therefore make publish and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, Imprimis
I give to my beloved wife Jane GERRISH all that house and premises which I lately bought of Joseph JONES during the term of her natural life if she should so long continue a widow and after her decease or should she intermarry of cohabit with any other man then I give the said house and premises to my son Richard GERRISH and to his heirs for ever but for want of such heir to my daughter Rachel GERRISH and to her heirs
Also I give to my wife the new house and the piece of ground now let with it to (blank) SUMMERILL late PRIGGS situated on North Common in the said parish of Bitton during the term of her natural life if she should so long continue a widow and after her decease or should she intermarry or cohabit with any other man as aforesaid then I give the said house and piece of ground to my son John GERRISH and to his heirs for ever but for want of such heir to my daughter Hannah GERRISH and to her heirs
Also I give to my wife the old house adjoining the other and the piece of ground now let to Samuel HARDING which I lately bought of Samuel CARY during the term of her natural life if she should so long continue a widow but if she should intermarry or cohabit as aforesaid then I give the said house and piece of ground to my son Christopher GERRISH and to his heirs for ever but for want of such heir to my daughter Sarah GERRISH and to her heirs and I do further order that both houses shall have equal right to the brewhouse bakehouse pig sty and necessary house
Also I give to my wife that piece of ground in the long paddock which I lately purchased of David BARNES during her natural life if she should so long continue a widow but if she should intermarry or cohabit as aforesaid then I give the said piece of ground to my son Simon GERRISH and to his heirs for ever but for want of such heir to my daughter Jane GERRISH and to her heirs
Also I give to my wife that piece of ground called the goose acre adjoining to Mrs PERRY's which I lately bought of David BARNES during the term of her natural life if she should so long continue a widow but if she should intermarry or cohabit as aforesaid then I give the piece of ground to my son Peter GERRISH and to his heirs for ever but for want of such heir to my son Simon and his heirs
Also I give to my wife during the term of her natural life if she should so long continue a widow all that my cottage house which I bought of James CHILCOTT situate on Oldland Common but if she should intermarry or cohabit as aforesaid then I give the said cottage house to my son Thomas GERRISH during the term of his natural life and after his decease I give the said cottage house to my son Peter GERRISH and to his heirs for ever
Also I give to my three sons namely Christopher, Simon and Peter GERRISH Twenty pounds each to be paid them as they respectively arrive at the ages of Twenty one years
Also I give to my four daughters namely Rachel, Hannah, Sarah and Jane GERRISH Twenty pounds each to be paid them as they respectively arrive to the ages of Twenty one years as aforesaid
Item I give to each of my trustees that shall act in their trust five shillings apiece to be paid in six months next after my decease And I do give power to each of my trustees that if either of the said houses as above mentioned in this my will shall be at any time out of repair to enter thereon and take the rents issues and profits thereof as will pay to put them in sufficient repair
And lastly all the rest and residue of my monies goods and chattels and personal estate whatsoever not herein before by me given my funeral expenses and legacies being first paid and discharged I give and bequeath equally between my wife Jane GERRISH and my two sons Richard GERRISH and John GERRISH whom I make exectrix and joint executors of this my last will and testament and I do constitute and make Mr John STIBBS and William PROCTOR son of Thomas PROCTOR both of the parish of Bitton to be my overseers in trust to see this my last will duly performed - In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine
signed by Emerson GERRISH and sealed
signed sealed published and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in the presence of
Joseph SHEPPARD; the mark of Martha WATERMAN; Thomas PROCTOR
proved
before James WEBSTER surrogate 21.6.1785 by Jane GERRISH and Richard
GERRISH
Sworn to be less than £300